Three Rogers State University students have been selected to participate in a nationally recognized internship program that places students with private, public and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.
Leon J. Hershberger of Tulsa, Jared Kebbell of Claremore and Jasmine Medley of Locust Grove have been selected as RSU representatives to participate in The Washington Center program. Hershberger will travel to Washington, D.C. for the 10-week summer session, while Kebbell and Medley will participate during the 16-week fall program.
The Washington Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing internship programs and academic seminars to college students. The organization arranges 2,000 to 3,000 internship placements annually.
This is RSU’s first year to place students in the program. Funding for RSU’s participation in the program was provided through a $25,000 legislative appropriation secured by Sen. Stratton Taylor, who participated in The Washington Center internship program as a college student. RSU also expects to send three additional students to participate in the coming year. Each student will earn college credit for successfully completing the program.
Hershberger is a business administration senior who previously earned a GED in 1999 and an associate’s degree in business administration in 2003, both from RSU. Hershberger will serve his summer internship with the U.S. Small Business Administration. He has been active in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, where he served as president and vice president. He was also an RSU Student Government Association (SGA) representative and chairman of several Phi Theta Kappa committees. He is the son of Joe and Katy Hershberger of Chouteau.
Kebbell is a senior in RSU’s social sciences degree program. A 2000 graduate of Claremore High School, he has been active in the RSU Psychology Club, where he served as president and as SGA representative. Kebbell’s fall internship has not been finalized, but he is seeking a placement within the legislative branch. He is the son of Ken Kebbell and Rosy Kebbell, both of Claremore.
Medley, who is a 2004 graduate of Pryor High School, is a freshman in the justice administration degree program. Her fall internship has not been finalized, but she is seeking a placement within law enforcement. She is the daughter of Brenda and Lowell Medley of Locust Grove.
The traditional components of The Washington Center’s general internship program include a four- or four-and-a-half-day per week internship, academic coursework, a Congressional Breakfast Series, a Presidential Lecture Series, embassy visit program, small group discussions, professional workshops, internship portfolio development, housing and student life services.
The Washington Center places students in a variety of public, private and non-profit environments. The program provides internships for students from a variety of academic disciplines, not just political science students, said Dr. Carolyn Taylor, RSU assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the university’s faculty liaison for the program.
In affiliating with The Washington Center, Rogers State University joins an elite group of public colleges and universities including the University of Oklahoma, University of Washington, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Connecticut, University of Illinois, and University of Massachusetts.